The phone rang continually at The Lamb Inn in Crawley, diners desperate for a table. But like Joseph in Bethlehem, there were none to be had despite the constant turnover. Sunday lunch is obviously a big deal here and the secret is out.
Fast forward a few hours and we could see why despite our discomfort. How could we have eaten that much, we asked as we staggered back out to the car. But who could resist the incredible meal we’d just enjoyed? Not us.
Perhaps, in hindsight, the oily, bouncy, herby strips of focaccia presented with a bowl of peppery olive oil and balsamic might have been an over eager start, while we perused the menus, but they were actually physically irresistible – salty, chewy, unctuous heaven.
There’s a reason the lamb INN is still so popular – it boils down to great hospitality, stunning food and that vital component – consistency
And that’s before we’d even tucked into the Sunday lunch options which were equally tantalising. Because the love poured into the menu by owners Seb (executive chef) and Lana Snow, and head chef Chris Burleton was tangible.
READ ABOUT THE SNOWS TAKING ON THE LAMB INN HERE: https://oxinabox.co.uk/the-king-of-reinvention-seb-snow-on-taking-on-the-lamb-at-crawley-the-celebrity-clients-and-the-fire-that-nearly-finished-him-off/
Usually you know what you’re going to get on a Sunday lunch menu. A scattering of starters, good choice of roasts, maybe a veggie option or two, but at The Lamb, while the usual suspects are on hand, there’s so much more.
From Puy lentil soup and Cornish mussels to beef carpaccio and wood pigeon salad for starters, or Moroccan lamb tagine and Cotswold game pie for mains, it was an inspired offering which goes part way to explaining The Lamb’s immense popularity.
The Lamb is Exactly what Sundays should be about
Bit it’s more than that. GM Paul Piper knew everyone’s names, locals understandably returning time and time again to the 18th century hostelry and its blazing fires, for the immaculate service.
Plus we loved The Lamb’s vibe – no stuffy gentrified gastropub here – it’s more bohemian, more fun, locals clustered at the bar catching up, customers awaiting a precious table, families, couples and friends enjoying a roast. Exactly what Sundays should be about.
We were given a gorgeous table in the bar, chairs draped in fleeces, window seats dressed with cushions and colourful upholstery, while the dining areas in the historic pub offer multiple options.
A wonderful Bloody Mary, complete with a slice of dehydrated lemon, was ornate and tasty. The wine selection was also excellent – a Romanian Pino Noir we could have bought by the case.
First up the soufflé, mushroom arancini, and the chicory salad. All fairly innocuous sounding, but it was the delivery that counted. The double Gloucester cheese soufflé (£11) came still bubbling, sizzling in a tiny metal skittle, resplendent with discernible grained mustard, enough sauce to mop up the bouncy soft soufflé, French cooking at its best.
Arancini are usually overly riced, the flavour or filling lost in the risotto mix, but here the wild mushrooms reigned supreme – pungent, rich, woody and served with a truffle aioli, rocket and finely grated parmesan (£9.95).
And the chicory salad (£9.95) was topped by two tiny crostini, scattered with diced chives like a cervelle de canut, the blue cheese nestled into each bitter leaf, the sweet, gently poached pear fragrant and still warm, while the toasted walnuts gave off that freshly baked aroma and taste.
Despite the tremendous start, nothing prepared us for the abundance and quality of the roasts. We ordered – a roast rump of beef (£24), a cracked pork belly (£23), a smoked haddock, and sat back in anticipation.
the beef surpassed itself – generous and perfectly cooked beef slices filling the plate, the colossal Yorkshire pudding just right
It didn’t disappoint, in fact it surpassed itself. The generous and perfectly cooked beef slices filling the plate, the colossal Yorkshire pudding just right, the pickled red cabbage delicately spiced, caramelised root veg nicely sweet, the potatoes so crispy we actually squealed in delight.
The pork was crispy and crunchy, the apple sauce piquant, the meat succulent. Throw in the oozing cauliflower cheese in a little ramekin and a bountiful jug of rich gravy and we were knee deep.
As for the fish, the poached smoked haddock was clean, pert and flaky, laid on wilted spinach and crushed potatoes, surrounded by a chive veloute (£25). Deceptively hearty it could have done with a bit more sauce, but we still wiped the plate clean.
When standards are this high, how could we resist dessert? So yes there might have been some belt loosening, but we still tucked into a stunning blood orange steamed sponge pudding with custard (£9.50) which was so light and fragrant, the custard spot on.
yes there might have been some belt loosening, but we still tucked into a stunning blood orange steamed sponge pudding with custard
The chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream delivered its dense liquid centre, the pistachio strong.
So yes, worth all the discomfort in the world. The Lamb is Crawley may have been in business under the Snows since 2019, but there’s a reason it’s still so popular, and it boils down to great hospitality, some stunning food and that vital component – consistency.
Sunday lunch runs at 12 noon -2.30 and closes at 4pm. The Lamb Inn, Steep Hill, Leafield Road, Crawley, Witney, OX29 9TW. https://www.lambpub.co.uk
